Soenksen golden goal boosts women’s soccer to 6-1 start

By Taylor Mueller, Athletic Communications Assistant

YANKTON, S.D. – The Concordia University women’s soccer squad kicked off the GPAC schedule in dramatic fashion by defeating Mount Marty College, 2-1, in double overtime. The victory was their fifth straight – all of which coming on the road. The win also ties a school record for the best seven-game start in program history.

Freshman Jessica Skerston got things rolling for the Bulldogs in the 22nd minute when she scored off an assist from senior teammate Ashlie Sklenicka.

“Ashlie Sklenicka and (senior) Melissa (Stine) tore up Mount Marty on the wings,” head coach Greg Henson said. “They were a great 1-2 punch. Ashlie really did a lot of great things creating chances for us.”

With just over four minutes left to play in regulation, however, Mount Marty’s Carly Manahan found the back of the net to tie the game up at 1-1 and force overtime.

In the 106th minute freshman Esther Soensken scored on another assist from Sklenicka to lift the Bulldogs to victory. The final goal came after a long possession in which Mount Marty never cleared the ball after the opening kickoff of the second overtime.

“The first overtime was just like the first 90 minutes,” Henson said. “We went at them but couldn’t find the back of the net. Their goalkeeper played outstanding. It was nice to finally get that goal.”

The goal was Skerston's ninth of the season, a statistic that leads the GPAC conference. Skerston has scored at least one goal in every game to begin the season.   

Although the scoreboard did not reflect it, the Bulldogs were on the offensive attack all day, advancing the ball down the field, and getting off shot after shot. By the end of the day, the Bulldogs tallied 29 shots to Mount Marty’s nine, 15 shots on goal to the Lancers’ 9 and seven corner kicks to Mount Marty’s none.

“They’re an organized team defensively and they sit players behind the ball,” Henson said. “We were able to create chances. We just weren’t able to finish. We dominated possession and Mount Marty’s only chances came on set pieces. Mount Marty is one of those teams that doesn’t go away.”

Sophomore goalkeeper Chrissy Lind had a long yet successful day of work, playing all 105:44, making five saves and allowing just one goal.

The tough road win was another positive step for the Bulldogs, who take on College of Saint Mary in Seward on Wednesday (Sept. 24) in their next match.

“For us these were three points (in the standings) we had to get,” Henson said. “Going on the road in the conference is always difficult. One of the reasons we’ve had such a long road trip was to prepare for these types of games in the conference."